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What's Up, Up Here? All the news and gossip for Dec. 2-8

Remember that horrendous accident on U.S. 395 near Bishop in 2010 that killed several student athletes, running coach John Adams and a driver? Minutes after the accident, local Eastsiders Amy Steinwand and Bishop volunteer firefighter John Williamson came upon the accident. They ended up helping local Inyo County Sheriff Deputy Shane Scott pull one victim from a burning car, and helping several others during the immediate aftermath of the accident. This week, the California State Firefighters Association awarded Armstrong with a rare citizen’s Award of Valor medal and Steinwand an Award of Merit medal. ....

Word is out that Sushi Rei was purchased by Mammoth Mountain Ski Area and will be coming back to its old location sometime soon, which is great news for all sushi-deprived Eastsiders. Between that and the new Red Lantern Chinese opening this evening, it’s like a fresh breath of sea air just hit this inland country and we’ll be the first to get in line. …

Just for the heck of it: Only 200 days until the bike park opens. …

Mammoth Brewery’s tasting room is closed and getting overhauled. They’re knocking down a few walls to make for more elbow room and a better tasting experience. The brewery is still open for retail right now, but the tasting will begin again on Dec. 13 along with growler fills, etc. Proprietor Sean Turner says he promises to keep us posted, and for questions, call (760) 934-7141. “Thanks for your patience!” says he. …
Nobody’s a more vocal Sawx fan than tourism chieftain John Urdi, whose take on this past week was: “Red Sox ... Bobby Valentine ... that’s a whole lot of crazy in just one little man. God help Red Sox Nation.” …

Need a good stocking stuffer? Samantha Watson Goetz reminds us, tongue in cheek, (we think) via Facebook that Kel-tec SU16CA’s would make a great gift. At only $549, they fold up, take AR magazines, come with two 10-round magazines, and tip the scales at a mere five lbs. Let the rejoicing begin!...

For a time there on Saturday, retailers on the Eastside, including Mammoth, were about ready to jump out of their turkey suits. Verizon experienced a glitch and all credit transactions were kaput. … “Only the busiest shopping day of the year,” opined Dawn Vereuck, of Mountain Living in The Plaza. …

Pro snowboarder Paul Bergeron says he likes the Unbound terrain park here. A lot. “It’s just the best place in the world, it’s paradise here!” …

And while we’re at it, the Canadian Slopestyle Team spent the last week sessioning the park at Mammoth. One reason? Mammoth has one of the “best and most reliable park set-ups for November training in order to get prepared for the December Dew Tour,” says Canadian Freestyle Team High Performance Program Director David Mirota. …

Lindsey Vonn and her husband Thomas announced Sunday that they have begun divorce proceedings. The pair married in September of 2007 and since then Thomas Vonn, a former World Cup racer who is nine years her senior, has acted as Lindsey’s chief advisor and assistant in coaching her. …
Triathlete Chris Lieto, who we tend to think as Our Own: “Excited to be on way to Thailand with Karis. Asia Pacific Champs this weekend in Phuket.” …

“A Walk in the Wild: Continuing John Muir’s Journey,” the big snazzy exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California, ends Jan. 22. If you’re in the Bay Area this holiday season, our advice is to see it. It’s in the Great Hall among the exhibit articles is his diary, including an account of his “accident” at Yosemite Fall when he got just a leetle too close to the water. “By that instinct that we call ... presence of mind, I dropped on my knees, laid hold of an angle of the rock, rolled myself like a ball with my face against my bosom and submitted to my terrible baptism.”

Oopsie. The money that was donated from Southern California Edison was put toward the Mammoth Lakes Foundation Scholarship fund and not the din din, which is Saturday. …

Christmas tree galore! In addition to the tree in The Village and the Town of Mammoth Lakes tree (to be lit tonight in the Footloose parking lot), there is another tree shining in the Knolls. Wonder who put that one up.